Published: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 12:24 a.m.

Belleview High School's Erica Stoner shot a 70 during a round of golf in Boynton Beach to earn her way into the U.S. Women's Amateur.

DOUG ENGLE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Playing in a USGA national championship is little more than a fantasy for most. For Ocala golfer Erica Stoner, it's a dream come true.
Stoner, just 16 and a rising junior at Belleview High School, won a coveted spot in the country's most prestigious women's amateur championship thanks to her sparkling performance at a Boynton Beach qualifier on Monday. Stoner shot a 70 to grab one of nine spots from a field of more than 80 golfers.
Now Stoner will compete in the storied Women's Amateur, a tourney that has been won by, among many, Morgan Pressel, Juli Inkster, Laura Baugh and Beth Daniel. This year's championship will be held Aug. 5-11 at the Country Club of Charleston (S.C.).
BACK IN BUSINESS: It may be 750 miles away from Marion County, but the Old White TPC in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. is starting to feel like home for local PGA golfer Ted Potter Jr. One year after winning the PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic there, Potter returned last week and scored a season-best sixth-place finish.
It was Potter's 10th made cut of the season in 18 tries, his second top-10 finish and fifth top-25. His season-best payday of $211,050 lifted his 2013 earnings to $812,790, good for 84th place on tour, while his FedEx Cup points jumped to 497, ranking him 72nd.
Potter now turns his attention to the $4.6 million John Deere Classic this week in Illinois, an event he survived the cut in a year ago on the way to a 66th-place finish. Potter joins a field that also includes defending champion Zach Johnson, Steve Stricker, Louis Oosthuizen and Keegan Bradley. The John Deere will be broadcast Thursday through Sunday at 3 p.m. with coverage on The Golf Channel the first two days and CBS through the weekend.
MOONLIGHTING: Former Forest High golfer Joel Durrance scored an impressive win on the Moonlight Tour last Wednesday at the Reunion Resort in Orlando. Durrance shot a 65 to split the three-stroke win with Matt Moot of Pennsylvania.
A REASON FOR OPTIMISM: Ocala 11-year-old golf sensation Gray Albright will compete in the 2013 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens from July 27-30. The series of events includes 600 golfers ages 10-18 representing 42 states and 20 countries. Local golf followers might remember Albright for the 67 he shot to win the Junior Spring Class at Ocala Golf Club in April.
GJT: Three Ocala golfers scored high finishes this week on the Gainesville Junior Tour at Ironwood Golf Course. Alexandra Dowd and Stephanie Pick each shot 87, finishing second and third. On the boys side, Peyton Anderson shot an 84 to finish third in the 14-15 division.
FIRST TEE BOOT CAMP: The First Tee of Greater Ocala, which teaches children core values, life skills and healthy habits through the game of golf, will host another youth golf boot camp from July 15-17. Costs $150 and includes lunch, hat, shirt and three days of instruction. The First Tee also has space available in its regular weekly classes. For information, call 362-2258 or visit www.thefirstteegreaterocala.org.
FIRST TEE SUMMER JR. GOLF TOUR: The First Tee will host a junior golf tour this summer with event dates on July 15, July 29, Aug. 5 and Aug. 12, all at Pine Oaks. Entry fee is $15 per nine-hole tournament with boys and girls divisions in four different age groups ranging from age 5 and up. For information, call 362-2258 or visit www.thefirstteegreaterocala.org.
JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Ocala Golf Club and Country Club of Ocala will co-host the 2013 Ocala Junior Championship on July 22-23. There are events for boys and girls in age groups 5-7 (three holes, OGC, $15); 8-10 (nine holes, OGC, $25); 11-12 (36 holes, both courses, $50); 13-14 (36 holes, both courses, $50); 15-17 (36 holes, both courses, $50). For information, contact Steve Albright at sja@aaaocala.com or 622-9191.
SUMMER GAMES: The Marion County Golf Association's next points event, the Summer Games, will be Aug. 4 at Pine Oaks and Aug. 5 at Ocala Golf Club. The two-person team event features nine holes each of Modified Chapman format, individual stroke play, four-ball stroke play and alternate shot. Cost is $90 per golfer. Visit www.marioncountygolf.com for information.
SUPPORT THE CHAMPS: The College of Central Florida's national champion men's basketball program is hosting the Wayne Childers Memorial Big Sun Scramble on Aug. 10 at Silver Springs Shores. The four-person team event, which benefits Patriots scholarships, recruiting and other expenses, costs $90 per player or $360 per team. For information, call 854-2322, ext. 1322.
TUESDAY SCRAMBLE AT BASELINE: Baseline Golf Course hosts a weekly scramble Tuesday nights starting at 6 p.m. Call 245-4414 for information.
HOLE IN ONE: Reccy Crews aced the 131-yard seventh hole at Baseline using a 9-iron with Ben Long witnessing.
-----Submit local golf information to Andy Marks at andy.marks@starbanner.com.

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